A UW-W Grad and Her Story About Life After College

Every college student spends a great deal of time going to classes, doing homework, and being involved in activities that will be beneficial for their future success. When looking at their future, students often look to professionals in their field for guidance and reassurance. One of the individuals that can be used as a resource for public relations is Amy Paul, a UW-Whitewater graduate and current employee of Ascedia.

While she was an undergraduate student at UW-Whitewater, Amy was very involved in PRSSA or the Public Relations Student Society of America. She joined this organization the year she declared herself a public relations major and she quickly rose to leadership through her position on the executive board. PRSSA provided Amy with the opportunity to go on agency tours, luncheons, conferences, and BMA events.

Also while in college, Amy had many internships that would later help her excel in public relations. These internships included brand ambassador for Qdoba Mexican Grill, Student Assistant for the UW-W University Development Office, fundraising and special events intern at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, and the communications intern and street team member for the Milwaukee Admirals. For all of these positions, Amy had to dedicate a great deal of time and effort into being successful. Through her position with the Admirals, Amy was able to create a website for the team to sell the photos taken of the team. She also was able to write press releases and do work that would later be a part of her portfolio.

Amy had many recommendations for being successful and how college students should prepare themselves for success. These recommendations include: participating in and making the most of internships, networking and maintaining connections, getting involved, not giving up even when things become frustrating, and having fun!

Amy is a wonderful resource and connection to have. She surprised me because she has done so much in her short life and has really enjoyed everything she has done. Amy is a great example to show students that with a little determination and a lot of hard work, everyone can be successful!

My Continuing Journey in PR

When I started at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, I never could have imagined I would be who I am today. I thought I would be a teacher after graduation. However, after moving in, I realized all that UW-Whitewater had to offer through organizations, extra-curricular activities and degrees I never knew existed. Through my involvement with the Residence Hall's Leadership Involvement Team, LIT, I learned that my true calling was event planning which allowed me to constantly be creative, and do something new and exciting every day. This led me to my new major of Public Relations.

Public Relations is a different path than I had ever considered as a young adult. I didn't know what kind of classes I would be taking or the skills I would ascertain through my many classes. This journey of switching majors and starting in a degree that was unknown to me has been difficult, but enjoyable. I am now in my third semester as a College of Arts andCommunications student. I enjoy being challenged as a writer and in my communication techniques. I have learned through my classes that with a lot of hard work, an education major can learn how to excel as public relations major.

With my third semester just starting, I can't help but imagine what the future holds. Although this is a mystery, I know that I am very excited for my new class Public Relations Tactics II. Through this class, I will be able to learn a lot about the use of social media and the web in Public Relations efforts. I am very excited to learn about optimizing my LinkedIn profile, updating my resume, using a blog, and working with Twitter.

Although I am the unconventional Public Relations student, I know that I have finally found the place that I was meant to learn and grow in as an individual. I’m sure you’re probably wondering who is living the life described. My name is Jeni Gruber and I can't wait to tell you where my crazy life as a Public Relations student takes me next!